BRYCE, UT – Bryce Canyon National Park announced today that recently closed areas of the park will once again be accessible to visitors starting Saturday, January 12th. Some visitor services will also reopen using revenue generated by recreation fees. Visitors should visit the park website at nps.gov/brca while planning their visit to get the latest information on accessibility and available services.

Areas that have been recently closed but that will be accessible to park visitors include:

National Park Service officials have determined that by using Federal Land and Recreation Enhancement funds to immediately bring back park maintenance crews to plow more roads, clean more restrooms, and increase areas of trash removal, the park will be able to restore accessibility to the park for visitors while ensuring health and safety. Most outdoor areas of the park will remain accessible to the north of the Rainbow Gate.

Thanks to the continuing generous donations from the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association (BCNHA), the Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center will remain open (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at least through January 30th. Entrance stations will be open as much as possible to provide safety and information protection messages to arriving visitors, but entrance fees and camping fees will not be collected.

“We greatly appreciate the generous contributions of park partners who have supported Bryce Canyon National Park during the lapse in appropriations,” said park superintendent Linda Mazzu. “Their efforts have contributed significantly to keeping the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center open at Bryce Canyon National Park throughout the shutdown.”

While basic visitor services have been restored, other services may be limited or unavailable during the lapse in appropriations, including ranger talks and programs. Additional information is available at nps.gov/brca.